Former Olympic gold medalist, Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore had been appointed as the country’s new Sports Minister on Sunday in a major cabinet reshuffle. After taking charge on Monday, Rathore has said that foremost priority is changing the attitude and inculcating respect and providing facilities for the country’s athletes, saying that sportspersons should be treated as the only VIPs in the country.
"There is only one VIP and that is the sportsperson and nobody else. There is a requirement of shift in attitude," said Rathore.
Rathode has said that India is the youngest nation has the potential to be the number one country as far as sports are concerned.
Finally a sports person is in charge of the ministry and on being asked about it, Rathore said-
“Expectations are from the day when I faced the first challenge as a sportsperson but an athlete does not fear defeat. I will make each of that beginning which players and Indian sport requires. I won't step back whether I win or lose and need support of all to make a change.
"Education is not limited to just school and colleges. Sport is not for just entertainment. The kind of leadership and education you receive on sports fields, helps in learning how to lead life. And that will be the aim, to provide youngsters a platform.”
Many prominent sports persons among other congratulated Rathore on being appointed as the new Sports Minister.
Rathore is a former sports person and he first stepped in the shooting range in mid 1990s. In 2004 Athens Olympics, Rathore made the country proud by winning India’s first ever individual silver medal. In his career, he had also won multiple medals at the Commonwealth and Asian games.